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05.27.20 Sped. Summer Program Notice
Dear Parents: As you are aware, Gloucester Public Schools has closed schools through June 17, 2020, in response to concerns given the unprecedented situation created by the spread of COVID-19 (Coronavirus). I write now to update you on Special Education Summer Programming. Due to the closure of schools and the continued risk of spread of the COVID-19 virus, we will be conducting our summer program virtually. A new Individual Service Plan will be sent to you to document the District’s offer of remote summer services. The program will run Monday- Thursday for 6 weeks from June 29, 2020- August 6, 2020. In the coming weeks, you will be contacted to schedule virtual therapies and services that your child receives as part of the Individual Service Plan. Staff will be reaching out directly through video chats platforms as ZOOM and Google Meet to provide direct instruction and other supports and resources remotely. If you’ve any questions prior to the start of the program, please call me at 978-281-9804. Please note that this email provides the following: NOTICE: Gloucester Public Schools special education staff will be connecting with you as family and students to provide summer special education services remotely. IMPORTANT: “To the extent that this distance learning activity provides confidential student information, all participants agree, by participating in this distance learning activity, to refrain from disseminating any confidential student information about other student participants with any third parties. By participating in this distance learning experience, consent to this request is hereby provided.” EXPECTATION: It is expected that online interactions as ZOOM or Google Meet live instruction will not be videoed as this risks confidentiality as stated above. In addition, students are expected to follow all the guidelines in our safe technology usage policy. Take care and be well, Patty Wegmann Director of Special Education Services 2 Blackburn Drive Gloucester, MA 01930 Phone: 978-281-9804/Fax: 978-281-9899 Email: pwegmann@gloucesterschools.com  |
School Committee - Superintendent Interview Recordings
Topic: School Committee - Superintendent Interview 5-18 5PM Start Time : May 18, 2020 04:42 PM Meeting Recording: Topic: School Committee - Superintendent Interview 5-19 5PM Start Time : May 19, 2020 04:49 PM Meeting Recording: Topic: Gloucester Schools - Building & Finance Sub-Committee 5-20 5PM Start Time : May 20, 2020 04:43 PM Meeting Recording: Topic: School Committee - Superintendent Interview 5-21 6PM Start Time : May 21, 2020 05:46 PM Meeting Recording: Topic: School Committee - Superintendent Interview 5-22 4PM Start Time : May 22, 2020 03:50 PM Meeting Recording:  |
Project Bread Opportunity Fact Sheet - 4/30/2020
 Dear Parents/Guardians, Please see the attached fact sheet regarding a federal food support program for eligible families. The program is called P-EBT, or Pandemic EBT. The Department of Transitional Assistance (DTA), in collaboration with the Department of Elementary and Secondary Education (DESE), received approval to operate this program in response to the COVID-19 related school closures. P-EBT provides food supports to help families with children who were receiving free and reduced-price school meals pay for food. |
Special Education, Letter from the State Dept. of Ed.
Dear Parents/Guardians of Special Education Students, The Massachusetts Department of Elementary and Secondary Education has issued a letter describing what schools are doing to support children during school closure. To see the letter go to the following link: http://www.doe.mass.edu/covid19/sped/family-letter/. The letter can be accessed in 15 languages other than English. Richard Safier, Superintendent |
Project Bread – Pandemic EBT (P-EBT) Fact Sheet April 2020
What is Pandemic EBT or P-EBT? The Families First Coronavirus Response Act of 2020 includes a provision called “Pandemic Electronic Benefit Transfer,” or “P-EBT.” This allows states to issue benefits to families with children who would receive free or reduced-price school meals, if not for school closures associated with COVID-19. Who will receive P-EBT? All Massachusetts students (preK-12) who are eligible for free or reduced-price school meals or attend a school that offers universally free breakfast and lunch will receive P-EBT. How much is the benefit? Each student will receive a P-EBT benefit that is equivalent to the cost of school breakfast and school lunch – $5.70/day. The total benefit amount is to be determined. What do families need to do to receive the benefit? If families are already receiving SNAP and/or TAFDC (TANF) benefits, they will receive the additional P-EBT benefit for each school-age child on their EBT card. If they do not receive SNAP or TAFDC, but their children receive free or reduced-price school meals, they will receive a P-EBT card – like a debit card – for each student in the mail that can be used at grocery stores to buy food. There is no application to complete. What can families, who are low-income, but not receiving SNAP or free or reduced-price meals, do to receive P-EBT benefits? Families who have recently lost jobs or income are encouraged to apply for SNAP through DTA Connect or Project Bread’s FoodSource Hotline (800-645-8333). If they are approved for SNAP, they will also receive P-EBT benefits for their school age children. If they are not eligible or do not wish to apply for SNAP, they may still apply for free or reduced-price school meals through their school district. Where can families use the P-EBT card? What can they purchase? P-EBT is NOT SNAP, but it operates very similarly. P-EBT cards can be used where SNAP EBT cards are accepted (https://www.fns.usda.gov/snap/retailer-locator). P-EBT can be used to purchase the same food as SNAP benefits – fruits, vegetables, bread, meats, dairy, etc. (https://www.fns.usda.gov/snap/eligible-food-items). P-EBT cannot be used to purchase toiletries, paper products (e.g. toilet paper), alcohol, or hot prepared food items. If a family uses their P-EBT card, can they still pick up/receive meals at school sites? Families using their P-EBT card can still take advantage of all food resources in their community including picking up/receiving meals from schools or community organizations like the YMCA, going to food pantries, and applying for federal nutrition programs such as SNAP. For more information about each of these resources, please go to www.projectbread.org/covid19 2 Will using P-EBT impact a family’s immigration status? The Public Charge rule does not apply to P-EBT benefits and does not impact a family’s or child’s immigration status. Undocumented students are eligible for P-EBT if they are enrolled in free or reduced-price meals at their school or attend a school that offers universally free breakfast and lunch. What if a family has questions about P-EBT? All questions should be directed to Project Bread’s FoodSource Hotline (800-645-8333). When will families receive P-EBT benefits? The roll-out of P-EBT has just started and eligible households are being identified. |
Emotional Well Being 04.20.20
Dear Parent/Guardian, We are all aware of the impact that school closure, the implementation of stay-at-home directives, and the overall concern for our families regarding the Coronavirus are having on our everyday lives. For many of us, it can mean coming to terms with our emotional well being and the well being of those around us. This message is coming to you in the hope that if circumstances require emotional health assistance for you or for others that you know, there are open lines of communication for help. This includes contacts for general mental health, youth mental health, substance use, and domestic violence. Please see the following information in the body of this text as well as the link which provides extensive information including local behavioral health resources, domestic violence/sexual assault resources, talking with children, tips for caregivers, parents, and teachers during infectious disease outbreaks, and even information about the social stigma associated with COVID-19. For emotional health assistance for you or for others do the same as above. If you need emotional support during these stressful times, consider the following (this list is not exhaustive): United Way: Call 2-1-1 and choose the “CALL2TALK” option (option 25) Samaritans is continuing operations 24/7, as always. During this unprecedented time, it can feel overwhelming to receive constant messages about COVID-19. Call or text their 24/7 helpline any time at 877-870-4673. The Disaster Distress Helpline, 1-800-985-5990, is a 24/7, 365-day-a-year, national hotline dedicated to providing immediate crisis counseling for people who are experiencing emotional distress related to any natural or human-caused disaster, including disease outbreaks like COVID-19. This toll-free, multilingual, and confidential crisis support service is available to all residents in the United States and its territories. Safelink:If you or someone you know is in need of sexual or domestic violence services, please dial the Safelink hotline at 877-785-2020 or visit janedoe.or/findhelp HAWC: https://hawcdv.org/contact/ 1-800-547-1649 HAWC is a leading domestic violence agency in Massachusetts, HAWC serves over 2,500 North Shore families per year. If you are curious about getting involved with HAWC or with one of our events, plesase out this form, and we will get back to you as soon as we can. City of Gloucester Health Dept.: gloucester-ma.gov The Gloucester Family Health Center: https://www.freeclinics.com/det/gloucester-family-health-center (978) 282-8899 Massachusetts Behavioral Health Partnership: https://www.masspartnership.com/ Lahey Health Behavioral Services: https://www.drug-rehabs.org/rehab-center/Lahey-Health-Behavioral-Services_Gloucester_MA.htm For more information, please see the link from the Regional Youth Protective Network or view attachment Richard Safier, Superintendent  |
School Year, School Closure
Dear Parents/Guardians, I am writing to inform you that Governor Baker has just announced that school closure will be extended through the school year. This comes after extensive deliberation on the matter at the state level. For our part, the district teachers and administrators will continue to hone their instructional delivery, materials and resources to provide remote learning as best they can. The Department of Elementary and Secondary Education will be providing updated guidelines regarding the remote delivery of education this week, specifically, highlighting best practices. Our district will take these recommendations under advisement. Now that we know that the rest of the school year will be done remotely, let us all be resolute in working together to provide our students with the best education and support possible. Best wishes, Richard Safier, Superintendent  Queridos padres/tutores, Le escribo para informarle que el gobernador Baker acaba de anunciar que el cierre de la escuela se extenderá durante el año escolar. Esto viene después de una extensa deliberación sobre el asunto a nivel estatal. Por nuestra parte, los maestros y administradores del distrito continuarán perfeccionando su enseñanza, materiales y recursos para proporcionar aprendizaje a distancia lo mejor posible. El Departamento de Educación Primaria y Secundaria proporcionará directrices actualizadas con respecto a la educación a distancia esta semana, específicamente, destacando las mejores prácticas. Nuestro distrito tomará estas recomendaciones en consideración. Ahora que sabemos que el resto del año escolar se hará a distancia, trabajemos todos juntos para proveer a nuestros estudiantes la mejor educación y apoyo posible. Mis mejores deseos, Richard Safier, Superintendente Caros Pais/Guardiães, Escrevo para vos informar que o Governador Baker acaba de anunciar que o encerramento das escolas será prolongado durante o ano lectivo. Isto vem na sequência de uma ampla deliberação sobre o assunto a nível estatal. Pela nossa parte, os professores e administradores distritais continuarão a aperfeiçoar o seu ensino, os materiais e os recursos para proporcionar o melhor ensino à distância que puderem. O Departamento do Ensino Básico e Secundário fornecerá, esta semana, orientações actualizadas sobre a prestação de ensino à distância, destacando especificamente as melhores práticas. O nosso distrito terá em conta estas recomendações. Agora que sabemos que o resto do ano lectivo será feito à distância, sejamos todos decididos a trabalhar em conjunto para proporcionar aos nossos alunos a melhor educação e apoio possíveis. Os nossos melhores votos, Richard Safier, Superintendente Cari Genitori/Tutori, Vi scrivo per informarvi che il governatore Baker ha appena annunciato che la chiusura della scuola sarà prolungata per tutto l'anno scolastico. Ciò avviene dopo un'ampia deliberazione sulla questione a livello statale. Da parte nostra, gli insegnanti e gli amministratori distrettuali continueranno ad affinare la loro offerta didattica, i materiali e le risorse per fornire l'apprendimento a distanza nel miglior modo possibile. Il Dipartimento dell'istruzione elementare e secondaria fornirà linee guida aggiornate sull'erogazione dell'istruzione a distanza questa settimana, in particolare, evidenziando le migliori pratiche. Il nostro distretto prenderà in considerazione queste raccomandazioni. Ora che sappiamo che il resto dell'anno scolastico sarà fatto a distanza, cerchiamo di essere tutti risoluti nel lavorare insieme per fornire ai nostri studenti la migliore istruzione e il miglior supporto possibile. Auguri, Richard Safier, Sovrintendente |
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